REPORTED GOLD DISCOVERY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 104, 14 March 1864, Page 4

REPORTED GOLD DISCOVERY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

(l'rd'.n till! "l'ertli Inquirer," January 2ti.) An expedition is in course of formation, to sail from Fremantle for the Gleuelg territory somo time next month. This trip is undertaken for the ostensible purpose of veri tying the statement of a prisonerjin the Convict Kstablishiuent, who declared that, ill ISoti, while junto of a Dutch ship lying in Camden Harbour, he landed, and, in the space of two and a half hours, collected H it>s. of gold nuggets which he afterwards sold to a bullion-dealer in Liverpool for £4 Hi. The man's name, or alias, is Y, r ildman ; he is a foreigner, and his tale is credited by those who have interrogated him on the subject. It is, however, not generally accepted ;is true, nor does it appear probable that he } would for so lone; a period have maintained secrecy, when it is considered that Camden Harbour is an unsettled place, was merely visited on this oceasiun to repair damages, and to not likely to be visited for any cither purpose. The only prospect he hail of again returning to tho spot was by confiding the secret to those who would have assisted by sending a vessel to Camden Harbour, either for the sole purpose of securing tho metal, or the passage to or from other ports. He i;ay.s that the crime for wliieh ho was convicted—forgery—was committed in order to raise tunds to charter a vessel; but even had he been successful, he. could not have concealed the object of his voyage from the crew—sooner or later they must have known it. We content ourselves with saying that tho tale being considered by .some to be "true, and by others probable, being viewed moreover in connection with the recorded opinion of .Sir George Grey that gold ■uill be found near the G.'enelg, and with tile tact that in some old charts this part of the island-continent is described as l'rovincia Aurii'er.i, it has been determined to dispatch a party to the spot. Some seven or eight individuals, who have either been gold-diggers in the other colonies or take an interest in the pursuit, have chartered a vessel of about 100 tons burden at. an expense of about .C'2oo for the trip, and will sail for the North us soon as their arrangements can be completed. They have collected subscriptions to the amount of about t'loO cash, hc-ides contributions of stores, {ci;. t and expect to receive much more before they ate ready to start. Mr. l'anler, uf the police department will be the leader of tho party, and the man " Wildman" will be taken to point out the spot. Jluch interest is taken in the matter, not so much on account of tho alleged gold-tieid as from a desire to have fuller information respecting the country which will be visited.